Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Mar1a]

Yup, I'm having to deal with both at the same time

 

The girls were sleeping atop their house, which to start with was fine because it was mega hot and I was happy they were safe. Then we realised they had a red mite problem so we completely removed the roof of the house and replaced it with a plastic one, as well as scrubbing and treating the rest of the house.

 

And then came along Mr Fox, so we knew we had to make them sleep in their house again. We had been religiously checking for mites in the house and were happy that we couldn't see any. We made their run and the outside of it extra secure.

 

On Saturday we went to do the weekly deep clean and pulled the nest box apart. No prizes for guessing what we found. So once again, apart comes the bedroom and nest boxes, perches replaced with new ones on top of a plastic stand and the ends covered with plastic too.

 

Last night was absolute torture trying to get them to go in the house. They tried everything possible not to go in, not realising that they had a new bedroom and new everything else. I have got some nettex spray on order. I have scrubbed everything in the nest box and bedroom with garlic. There is garlic in their water. They've been eating (or rather, stealing!) garlic to eat.

 

What else can I do? They live on an allotment, and so there is no access to hot water unless we take it in a flask. No electricity at all.

 

Dusting them thoroughly is very difficult because we have been trying to catch them to get them in their bedroom, one or two of them have become very wary of us and run if we get anywhere near. I already diatom the hay in the nest box, their bedding, their perches and their dustbathing spots. We are planning an almost military operation to get their whole bodies done.

 

This is so depressing. Keeping hens was not meant to be filled with dread upon every visit, not knowing what problem is going to hit us next. At the height of fox-gate, I had a broody too, although chucking her out of the box daily, she snapped out of it by herself, which is a huge relief because I didn't want to put her in broody jail while the fox was trying to get at them, it would have been like using her as bait

 

I'm sorry, I've rambled on, but you guys are probably the only ones who have any idea how I'm feeling and how to fix it! We go on our hols in two weeks so I need to have it all sorted so their sitters don't have the same troubles

[Cat tails]

Sorry to hear you are struggling so much!

 

You could try a spot on treatment to make them less of a target, but that won't get rid of the mites. And I understand that the spot on treatments aren't licensed for poultry in the UK (they are in Holland).

[mrsrobinson]

Won't Ivermectin 1% Spot on get rid of the mites? I use that and seems to work but on ordinary mites. I could only find it online tho.

[Cat tails]

That's what I'm referring to, but it's not licensed to be used on poultry in the UK, as I understand from the other Omletteers here.

[Egluntyne]

That's what I'm referring to, but it's not licensed to be used on poultry in the UK, as I understand from the other Omletteers here.

That's right, it isn't. I use it.

 

I would change the bedding. Hay is not good for chickens and they may eat it and develop crop problems. Also hay and straw may harbour mites and other nasties. Try wood shavings, or something like Aubiose if you can get hold of it, instead.

[Mar1a]

Thank you

 

They're going into the house now with less encouragement each night tomorrow is nettex and powdering day. I'll be a lot happier once we have got that done! Couple of the girls have always even resistant to say the least about being picked up. I'll certainly be making a note of the ivermectin in case we need it.

[Mar1a]

Well, powdering them was way easier than I thought it would be! We watched a lot on YouTube and went with lying them down on their backs, holding their legs and giving them a good checking over and dusting. It was difficult to catch a couple but we managed it

 

What was even more amazing is how chilled they were afterwards! There was the usual clamour for their blackberries, but after that, there was barely a peep from them! They were so relaxed it was unbelievable!

 

Fingers crossed they'll head straight to bed in their house tonight - that git taken apart today, cleaned, nettexed and dusted. It's a brave mite that shows its face in that house now

[The Dogmother]

As mentioned above, you really need a two pronged attack - treat the birds with a spot-on preventative every quarter; my farm vet recommends Ivomec Eprinex, which isn't licensed for poultry in the UK, dosage is here

 

Clean out the housing and spray with the pink Nettex Total Mite Kill spray (you can refill this by diluting their TMK concentrate 1:10 with water to make it cheaper). Be sure to shake it well first. Powder the housing thoroughly with their Buz Busters Louse Powder; repeat this every 3 days until they are all gone, then revert to a weekly clean following the same procedure. This WILL get rid of them and keep them off, but you need to persevere and be vigilant, taking the whole thing apart at every clean.

 

As Egluntyne has advised, avoid hay or straw in the housing and run

[Mar1a]

Thank you DM - we used the ready to stuff yesterday because the concentrate still hasn't arrived but it's done for the moment and we will do it again at the weekend.

 

Another lady on my site got her chickens shortly after we did. I took at look at the coop the other day at her request, and it is infested with RM her poor girls I was amazed to see such a poor standard of care. I gave her a list of everything she needed to do and to get and I haven't seen her since, until today. I asked her how the problem was and she said "i poured hot water on it" her "co-keeper" was there too and he didn't bat an eyelid

 

I can't believe that people can be so cavalier about it. When we first realised we had a fix problem we looked at their run and it is so sloppily put together. When we first found out we had red mite, we made sure they were aware of it so that they could take precautions. Did they listen?? And they want me to take them up on looking after our girls when we are away?? Are we 'eck as like we go in less than two weeks and have had two different groups of sitters fall through. We are investigating boarding this weekend. Least I know they'll be well looked after

[The Dogmother]

I don't blame you Mar1a

 

There have been some reports of bad infestations this year; the trick is to establish a good routine and keep at it. I would also suggest swapping roof felt for Onduline if you have wooden housing, as that has less of a tendency to harbour mites.

 

Remember to shake the concentrate before you dilute it - it is easy to forget as it isn't coloured.

[Mar1a]

We took the felt roof off the house and replaced it with a plastic one. That's destined to become an onduline roof when we come back from our hols. The next box lid is next for replacing. That will be done after our hols too as the girls will be on their own little holiday

[The Dogmother]

If you can find some alternative housing for them for a few days, then it is worth clearing the whole thing out, caulking all the seams and cracks, then giving it a couple of coats of gloss paint or varnish. Be sure to let it dry and air well first before you put them back though. That will make it easier to clean and a lot more mite resistant.